Begonia ‘Thurstonii’ is a very old shrub-like hybrid created in 1887 in New Jersey by C. Thurston. It is a fast grower and with some pinching and cutting back makes a nice bushy mound. The leaves are a deep green-bronze and bright red on the back. It is sometimes called “Beefsteak Begonia” but should not be confused with the original “Beefsteak Begonia” B. ‘Erythrophylla’, which is rhizomatous. It does not bloom very much in the south, I suspect because of the warm nights through the growing season. On the California coast and areas where the nights are cool it can bloom profusely. It has large clusters of pink flowers. This is a very easy to grow cultivar. It can get quite tall if staked and pruned to grow up.

(C. Thurston, New Jersey, 1887)

Care of Begonia ‘Thurstonii’:

• Bright light
• 45 to 95 degrees
• Humidity 50 to 60%
• 2 to 3ft. tall
• Water when top two inches of soil are dry

Family: Begoniaceae

This plant is sold in a 3-4 inch pot.